The Mongols were primarily a nomadic people, but that doesn’t mean they didn’t like strong drink. The problem is that creating any kind of fortified spirits normally requires a complicated still setup to concentrate the alcohol. Given their propensity for moving around, this kind of arrangement did not sit well with the Mongols. Fortunately (or unfortunately, depending on your perspective), the Mongols came up with an alternative solution. They used a process known as “freeze distillation” to make wine much more concentrated. The process works by exploiting the difference in freeze temperatures between water and alcohol. The water freezes first, which allows this ice to be separated from the liquid. By using this technique, Mongols were able to make spirits of up to 60% alcohol, all while still riding around the stepps.
– A few thoughts from your friend Saxo